Cincinnati, Oct. 31, 2008 - The Procter & Gamble Company has filed a patent lawsuit against Kraft Foods Inc., manufacturer of the Maxwell House and Tassimo coffee brands.
The lawsuit, filed in the United States Federal District Court for the Southern District of Ohio in Cincinnati, was filed as an amendment to a current complaint alleging that Kraft's new four-pound plastic container for Maxwell House coffee infringes key P&G patents. The new claim alleges certain Maxwell House and Tassimo coffee products infringe an additional P&G patent on Folgers Coffee.
In 2003, P&G introduced Folgers Coffee in a consumer-preferred plastic container. This innovation has grown the Folgers business for the past five years. In addition, P&G made extensive investments in improving coffee and coffee processes in its efforts to make Folgers Coffee the most consumer-preferred US coffee brand.
"We made significant investments in our Folgers Coffee business and we must protect our intellectual property from the continuing and expanding infringement by Kraft's Maxwell House and Tassimo coffee products," said Steve Jemison, P&G chief legal officer. "Many of our Folgers innovations are covered by patents. We believe it is imperative that we protect our large investment in consumer-preferred product improvements against Kraft's multiple infringements," he said.
The lawsuit seeks to stop Kraft Foods from selling the infringing Maxwell House and Tassimo coffee. It also seeks recovery of damages.